So, you have arrived in Okinawa and... the weather is bad. It is cloudy, windy, cold, and it even rains! You might think: "How can I be so unlucky? Why does it have to rain exactly during my precious vacation time?". Sure, Okinawa is famous for its sun and clear skies, but sometimes it rains even here! Even though Okinawa can be beautiful and fascinating even with rain, it is true that bad weather can be annoying and that all the sea-related activities are not possible, also for safety reasons. Anyaway, don't worry! As locals would say in such cases: "Shikata ga nai", which means: "There's nothing you can do about it". Here's a list of the 5 best places to visit on rainy days, so that you will not waste even a second of your journey! 1. Churaumi Aquarium Nothing better than the fourth largest aquarium of the world to spend a rainy afternoon observing and learning about marine life. Located inside Ocean Expo Park, in the northern part of the island, this aquarium is a treasure chest full of wonders related to ocean life. Its biggest tank, the "Kuroshio Sea" is home to three exemplars of whale shark. We can guarantee that observing these giant sea creatures swim in front of you is something out of this world. Located in the Omoromachi area, in Naha city, and easily accessible by the Yui Rail, this museum contains everything you need to know about Okinawa's history, art, natural history and much more. It is a very interactive museum that will provide a very good basic knowledge about the island. All these information will definitely be useful during your journey, wheter is a better understanding of the attractions you visit, or something to talk about when meeting locals! Even though this theme park is not entirely covered, it is still easy to enjoy it even on a rainy day. In fact, its attractions are almost entirely covered! You will just have to open an umbrella to walk between one and another. Definitely protected from the rain is Gyokusendo Cave, an incredible limestone cave inside the park. Same for the Habu Museum, dedicated to the venomous snake and other type of reptiles. Also the daily shows of the Eisa traditional drum dance are held in a little theatre protected with a roof. The only attraction that is half open air is Ryukyu Kingdom, a reproduction of an ancient village. We say "Half open" because its small streets are not covered by a roof, but all the handcraft activities you can try are inside the workshops, which are nothing less than ancient traditional Okinawan houses. Rain does not represent a big threat when you decide to visit Okinawa World! 4. Orion Happy Park Do you know Orion Beer? It is Okinawa's most famous brand and definitely the most appreciated by locals. Its factory, located in the city of Nago, in the north of the island, offers a free tour of the facility, during which you can observe the manufactory process, from raw ingredients to completed cans and bottles! At the end of the tour, you will even be offered two beers and a pack of snacks, again free of charge. The beer is delicious and made with the water coming from Mount Nago, on the back of the factory, and other natural ingredients of Okinawa Island. The factory tour needs to be booked in advance but, if you feel lucky enough, you might try to ask at the counter if there is an opening during the day! 5. First Makishi Public Market The most important market of Naha city is just a few seconds away from Kokusai Street and is completely covered. In this market, you will not only find shelves selling a huge variety of fruits, vegetables, fish and meat from Okinawa, but also a vibrant atmosphere remained untouched since decades. Take a chance to shop around and, if you feel hungry, you can always use the Mochiage service: buy the ingredients on the ground floor and have them cooked on the second floor! One last reminder! If you want to lower the chances of rainy days during your vacation in Okinawa, make sure you avoid Tsuyu, the rainy season! It starts around early May and continues until June! This does not mean that in this period it rains every day, but the weather surely is more cloudy compared to the rest of the year! You might also be interested in:
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